Assembly Insurance Committee Chair pledges consumer-driven agenda

ALBANY -- Newly appointed Assembly Insurance Committee Chair Kevin Cahill (D-Kingston) says there will be no "pay to play" on his watch, though legislators who control insurance bills are powerful magnets for campaign donors.

"Some people think their campaign contributions buy them something, and it doesn't," Cahill said Friday, citing his previous job as chair of the Assembly Energy Committee. "Ask any of the utilities that come to my fundraisers how kind I have been to them. They would say not very."

According to the New York Public Interest Research Group, Cahill's predecessor as insurance chair, Assemblyman Joseph Morelle (D-Monroe County) raised a total of $683,469 during the last election cycle that ran from December 2010 to December 2012. Of that, $132,650 came directly from companies that offer insurance.

Morelle is now Majority Leader of the Assembly, a powerful post whose primary duty is running floor operations in the Democratic-controlled house.

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In the Senate, Insurance Committee Chair James Seward (R-Otsego County) raised $588,707 in the same cycle, with $193,755 coming from insurance companies, according to NYPIRG's database of campaign donations. The money was raised when Republicans still had total control of the Senate. They are now sharing power with a group of five breakaway Democrats, but still hold most of the clout there.

Seward, who was not immediately available for comment, has faced criticism at election time that he is too close to the insurance industry. His response is that he is only beholden to the voters of his district.

NYPIRG's analysis showed Seward finished first and Morelle third in terms of the amount of campaign money collected from the financial sector, which includes banks that sell insurance. Seward took in $203,555 and Morelle, $150,450. Senate leader Dean Skelos came in second, with $192,100.

"It is clearly one of the more lucrative committee chairs in terms of campaign cash," NYPIRG's research director Bill Mahoney said Friday. "(Insurance) affects a lot of industries ... a lot of people have a lot of motivation to give."

The same follow-the-money rule holds true for legislators who chair the Senate and Assembly health committee and the committees that handle bills affecting public employee unions, Mahoney said. Holding any of those committee chair jobs "really helps candidates raise a lot of money."

Cahill, a lawyer who has served in the Legislature for 20 years, said he has not held a fundraiser since taking over the new committee post and does not have one currently scheduled. Cahill's Jan. 15 filing with the state Board of Elections shows a campaign fund balance totaling $30,302.

With the budget hearings ongoing and the April 1 start of a new fiscal year approaching, campaign fundraising is in overdrive in Albany. Today and tomorrow, at least eight fundraisers with ticket prices set at $500 are scheduled. On Monday, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee are holding a $1,000 per ticket fundraiser.

Saturday, Sen. Greg Ball (R-Putnam County) was holding a $100 a ticket fundraiser in Croton Falls. Motivated donors can give as much as $10,300 to be a "Victory Sponsor."

Cahill says one big difference he has with Morelle is that his predecessor is chair of the Monroe County Democratic Party, a job that entails a lot of fundraising work. Morelle is also a businessperson with strong ties to both Assembly Speaker Silver and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Cahill says he does not have the same kind of political and business contacts and does not expect that his campaign fund will be a magnet for insurance interests. "I don't really anticipate them showing me any great favors," Cahill said. "Certainly the agenda coming out of our committee will be reflective primarily of consumer need."